Distance learning for IDOL students, literally

Hundreds of students appearing for the under-graduate exams starting May 6 being offered by the Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL), University of Mumbai, have been assigned exam centres almost 50 km away from their homes, even though they had opted for a centre closer to home. While the hall ticket shows the zone of the exam centre opted for by the student, the actual exam centre has been assigned in a different zone. Parents have said that the institute has refused to rectify the mistake which will discourage their children from appearing for the exams.

According to a parent Naeem Shaikh, a businessman and resident of Mohammadali Road, while filling up the exam form, his daughter had applied for centre 1 — Mumbai city. “She was told that Centre 1 meant she would be assigned an exam seat in a college anywhere between Fort and Elphinstone Road. However, while the hall ticket mentions Centre 1 she has been allotted a college in Kurla. We realised that there must have been some mistake and hence, approached IDOL to get the mistake rectified,” said Mr Shaikh.

Apart from Mr Shaikh, several other students also faced similar problems. A student from Mira Road was allotted a college in Mumbra while other students from Borivali were assigned a centre at Kharghar.

“When we pointed out the error in allotment of college and the fact that our children will be forced to travel long distances, the officials at IDOL refused to admit their mistake and said that if we found it so cumbersome we should not send our children for the exams,” said Mr Shaikh, who is also a member of the Mumbai Aman Committee. Mr Shaikh also alleged that the officials changed the colleges for some students but refused to oblige others which hinted at discriminatory practices being adopted by the institute officials.

On being confronted with the problem, Dinesh Kamble, deputy registrar (examination), IDOL first denied any mistake but on being furnished with the facts he said he would have to inquire into whether there was a problem. “I think there was a problem with the colleges refusing to host the exams but we will be able to confirm the exact reason for students being allotted colleges outside the centre only after knowing the facts,” said Mr Kamble.

Though Mr Kamble had asked this correspondent to call after an hour, his phone was not reachable thereafter.